Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Fast
Tomorrow is my next colonoscopy—my sixth in 2 years and 9 months. So the only thing I'll be eating today is what's in that cup. Green tea or vegetable broth. As I type this post, after two cups of tea, I can already feel the hunger that begins to consume the body. I feel weak. I have learned to forgo my morning run on my prep days. That tends to really wipe me out.
I have said before I'd fall over if I didn't have something right away when I get up. Not eating is hard for me. I actually look forward to beginning the yucky prep drink. It keeps me so busy drinking the stuff and running to the toilet for four hours, I don't have time to feel hungry or weak.

Healthy Diet Works
My last colonoscopy was April 1, 2010 and I had no polyps or cancer. A remarkable result considering the previous four colonoscopies removed 61 problems. When I started my cancer-fighting diet in March 2008 I really wasn't sure I could beat a genetic condition for cancer. I went through a tough emotional time, realizing this may be the way God would take me home.

"...they were aliens and strangers on earth... longing for a better country—a heavenly one..." ~Hebrews 11:13-16

Now that I'm proof you can make a difference in your health with diet, I shout it from the roof-tops. Is anybody listening? Helllloooo! I don't care what people think. I want them to know you can get rid of disease with diet. Makes total sense to me! Stop putting all that c**p in your body! Live life to the fullest. That's what I'm doing.

The Power of Prayer
I also have the awesome privilege of people praying for me. I chatted with a friend this past weekend. He asked how I felt. "Great," I answered. He responded that he prays for me. I am humbled by those who take on praying consistently for others in their need.

Tips For Colonoscopy PrepWarning: This section covers a tabu subject (aka, things we don't like to talk about). Since eventually everyone will/should have a colonoscopy, here are some things you should know:

Drink lots of water on prep day. You will not be able to drink anything before the procedure so drinking up the day before helps pre-hydrate you. Very important if you want the nurse to find your vein when installing the IV. On one occasion, they stuck me five times in different places before they got one that worked. That's what happens when the vein is dehydrated.

Stock the toilet area with flushable hemorrhoid wipes. Do not use toilet paper or you'll rub your tush raw. Hemorrhoid wipes contain witch hazel, an herbal remedy that soothes sores and reduces swelling. You can buy PreparationH or buy the generic. Check the label for witch hazel—should be 50%.

Drink prep until you see clear liquid in the toilet. The amount of prep (Colyte, Gavilyte-C, NuLytely, GoLytely or PEG 3350 Solution) they give you is meant to ensure you get your colon clean. I weigh 118 lbs. When I'm experiencing two to three bowel movements a day, I don't need to drink the whole four liters like the 280 lb person who is constipated most of the time.

Drink water up until 3 hours before your procedure. Since I always schedule my appointment the first one of the morning, I get up early so I can drink more water. Not going to endure all those needle pricks—one is enough.

I hope I've covered everything. I get a little brain foggy as I go through the day. You can always contact me with any questions.

Oh... incase you wonder, the genetic condition I have is MYH-Associated Polyposis. From my research I found that the MYH gene is a repair gene. I bet you didn't know that many genes have the job of repairing what goes awry when DNA replicates in your body. A mutation in the DNA caused the repair function of the MYH gene to fail. The broken gene predisposes me to the growth of colon polyps that eventually become cancerous. Class dismissed.